Prefixes can be found in strong, weak and mixed verbs. Some prefixes are always joined to the verb and never separated from it – these are called inseparable prefixes. However, the majority are separated from the verb in certain tenses and forms, and come at the end of the sentence. They are called separable prefixes.

1Inseparable prefixes

There are eight inseparable prefixes in German, highlighted in the table of common inseparable verbs below:

Inseparable Verb

Meaning

Inseparable Verb

Meaning

Inseparable Verb

Meaning

Inseparable Verb

Meaning

beschreiben

to describe

enttäuschen

to disappoint

gehören

to belong

verlieren

to lose

empfangen

to receive

erhalten

to preserve

misstrauen

to mistrust

zerlegen

to dismantle

Note that when you pronounce an inseparable verb, the stress is NEVER on the inseparable prefix:

erhaltenverlierenempfangenvergessen

Das darf ich wirklich nicht vergessen.

I really mustn’t forget that.

2Separable prefixes

There are many separable prefixes in German and some of them are highlighted in the table below which shows a selection of the most common separable verbs:

Separable Verb

Meaning

Separable Verb

Meaning

abfahren

to leave

mitmachen

to join in

ankommen

to arrive

nachgeben

to give way/in

aufstehen

to get up

vorziehen

to prefer

ausgehen

to go out

weglaufen

to run away

einsteigen

to get on

zuschauen

to watch

feststellen

to establish/see

zurechtkommen

to manage

freihalten

to keep free

zurückkehren

to return

herkommen

to come (here)

zusammenpassen

to be well-suited;

hinlegen

to put down

to go well together

Der Zug fährt in zehn Minuten ab.

The train is leaving in ten minutes.

Ich stehe jeden Morgen früh auf.

I get up early every morning.

Sie gibt niemals nach.

She’ll never give in.

3Word order with separable prefixes

In tenses consisting of one verb part only, for example the present and the imperfect, the separable prefix is placed at the end of the main clause.

Der Bus kam immer spät an.

The bus was always late.

For more information on Separable prefixes in the perfect tense, see The perfect tense.

In subordinate clauses, the prefix is attached to the verb, which is then placed at the end of the subordinate clause.